'Cowardly scum' who robbed disabled man in Sheffield has prison sentence increased

Derek Brian, who has cerebral palsy and uses a wheelchair, left his front door slightly open after letting his cat out on November 18, 2019, when 34-year-old Amaraze Khan sneaked in.

Mr Brian manoeuvred his wheelchair towards his side table, attempting to reach his phone, but Khan leaned over him and grabbed the mobile.

He then tipped Mr Brian out of his wheelchair and onto the floor of his home before leaving the property in Darnall.

Mr Brian managed to reach his landline and dialled 999 to raise the alarm and police officers arrived within 10 minutes to help him and mount a search for the robber.

On January 7, 2021, Khan was sentenced to three years and six months behind bars but following a referral to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme, the sentence was found to be unduly lenient and increased.

Khan's sentence was increased to five years and he must also spend three years on extended licence after his release in a bid to encourage improved behaviour.

After the hearing at the Court of Appeal, the Attorney General, Rt Hon Michael Ellis QC MP, said: “Khan targeted a vulnerable victim who could not defend himself. His cowardly actions have caused psychological harm to the victim and I welcome the Court of Appeal’s decision today.”

When Khan was originally sentenced, Sheffield Crown Court heard how his victim now feels unsafe and ‘like a prisoner in his own home’.

Khan, of Greenland Court, Darnall, was tracked down through his DNA found on the handle of Mr Brian’s wheelchair and pleaded guilty at court.

He had 16 previous convictions, including five burglaries, on his record.

Judge David Dixon., who initially sentenced him, said at the time: “You knew you were targeting a clearly vulnerable man. Being the cowardly scum that you are you left him on the floor.

“If he didn't have the mobility he has he might have stayed there. He might well have died. That is how depraved and low this crime is.

The judge branded him an ‘extremely dangerous man’.

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